Hair removal device for removing body hair on a body surface

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an improved hair removal device for removing body hair on a body surface, comprising a hand-held housing, an electric motor arranged in the housing, operating means for operating the motor and a flexible, cylindrically shaped hair removal element which is connected rotatably at a first end to a protruding first end of the housing and is connected at a second end to a driven shaft of the motor, and a curved first section of the hair removal element is provided with a plurality of slits in its outer surface, wherein during rotation of the hair removal element and the movement of the first section against the surface the slits are open on the convex side of the first section in order to receive the hairs in the slits and are closed on the concave side of the first section in order to capture and pluck the hairs out of the surface.

The invention relates to a hair removal device for removing body hair on a body surface, comprising a hand-held housing, an electric motor arranged in the housing, operating means for operating the motor and a flexible, cylindrically shaped hair removal element which is connected rotatably at a first end to a protruding first end of the housing and is connected at a second end to a driven shaft of the motor, and a curved first section of the hair removal element is provided with a plurality of slits in its outer surface, wherein during rotation of the hair removal element and the movement of the first section against the surface the slits are open on the convex side of the first section in order to receive the hairs in the slits and are closed on the concave side of the first section in order to capture and pluck the hairs out of the surface.

A hair removal device according to the preamble is known in the field and is described in the European patent EP0290119.

The known hair removal device has the drawback that the curved first section has a relatively large arc length compared to the path described by the first section, whereby the hair removal device is less suitable for very precise removal of hairs.

The invention has for its object to provide a hair removal device according to the preamble which obviates the above stated drawback.

The inventive hair removal device has for this purpose the feature that the curved first section of the hair removal element substantially follows a part of an imaginary circle with a maximum diameter of 35 millimetres along an arc length of a maximum of 25% of the circumference of the circle. Because of this technical measure the first section is only a relatively small part of the imaginary circle, whereby the distance between a first and second end of the first section is small in transverse direction of the hair removal device.

In order to further increase precision, the circumference of circle (C) amounts to a minimum of 50 millimetres.

It has been found in practice that with an arc length and diameter in the stated range the precision with which the inventive hair removal device can be operated is increased enormously relative to the known hair removal device.

In order to further increase precision, in a preferred embodiment of the hair removal device according to the invention the angle (α) between the first end of the flexible hair removal element and the housing lies between 30° and 60° and the angle (β) between the second end of the flexible hair removal element and the longitudinal direction of the housing lies between −10° and 10°.

In order to clean the hair removal element, such as removing wedged hairs, the hair removal element in the inventive hair removal device is preferably connected releasably at the first end to the protruding first end of the housing. Since the hair removal element is flexible, it is possible to bend the hair removal element to some extent and detach and reattach the first end of the hair removal element. The protruding first end of the housing preferably comprises an opening which is configured to receive the first end of the hair removal element. The first end of the hair removal element can be arranged releasably in the opening, but it is preferred that the first end of the hair removal element is provided with a coupling element which can be received in the opening. The coupling element co-acts here with the opening in the first end of the housing such that the coupling element can rotate in the opening.

In a further embodiment of the hair removal device according to the invention a second section of the hair removal element extends from the second end thereof in the direction of the first end, which second section is substantially straight and at least partially received in the housing. This measure ensures that the shape of the first section of the hair removal element is better maintained when the hair removal element is rotated, since the first section of the hair removal element cannot pivot at the second end thereof adjacent to the second section.

In the preferred embodiment of the hair removal device according to the invention the protruding first end of the housing is provided with a concave-shaped surface which extends between the first end and the second end of the hair removal element. The space between the concave-shaped surface and the curved first section of the hair removal element forms a viewing aperture, whereby a user of the device can see the skin surface.

In a first preferred embodiment of the hair removal device according to the invention the first section of the flexible hair removal element is formed solely by a spiral-shaped spring. More particularly the whole flexible hair removal element is formed solely by a spiral-shaped spring wherein the first section and second section transpose into each other. In known hair removal devices which apply a spiral-shaped spring, a support in the form of a curved metal wire is always arranged in the spring because of the (arc) length of the spring. Since the arc length of the hair removal element in the hair removal device according to the invention is relatively limited compared to the circumference of the imaginary circular path, a support in the spring is not necessary.

In a second preferred embodiment of the hair removal device according to the invention a third section of the hair removal element extends from the first end of the hair removal element in the direction of the first end of the first section of the hair removal element, which third section is substantially straight and at least partially received in the housing. More particularly the whole flexible hair removal element is formed solely by a spiral-shaped spring wherein the third section, first section and second section transpose into each other.

The hair removal device according to the invention has a hair removal element with a diameter of less than 5 millimetres, and more particularly a diameter of about 3 millimetres. The hair removal device is hereby able to remove very fine hairs.

In the preferred embodiment of the hair removal device the motor is configured to rotate the flexible hair removal element with a rotation speed of between 250 and 600 rotations per minute. Use is preferably made here of a motor which operates at a much higher rotation speed. The rotation speed is reduced to the stated range by means of a transmission. The flexible hair removal element hereby rotates at a relatively low speed but with a high torque.

The invention will be further elucidated with reference to the following figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment of the hair removal device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is also a side view of the hair removal device according to FIG. 1, in which an upper side of the housing has been removed;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the protruding first end of the housing along the longitudinal side thereof;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of the protruding first end of housing 2 along the longitudinal side thereof without the hair removal element (5).

The same components are designated in the different figures with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment of hair removal device 1 according to the invention. Hair removal device 1 comprises a hand-held housing 2.

FIG. 2 is also a side view of hair removal device 1 according to FIG. 1, wherein a part 2-5 of housing 2 is omitted.

An electric motor 3 is arranged in housing 2. Electric motor 3 is preferably powered by one of more batteries or accumulators, which are preferably also arranged in housing 2 in a power supply compartment 3-1. In addition, there is also the possibility of electric motor 3 being powered by means of mains electricity. Hair removal device 1 comprises operating means 4 arranged on housing 2 for operating motor 4. Operating means 4 are arranged by way of example on a second end 2-4 of housing 2 in the form of a rotary knob 4. Close to a first end 2-1 of housing 2 the hair removal device 1 comprises a flexible, cylindrically shaped hair removal element 5 which is formed by a spiral-shaped spring 5. Spring 5 is connected rotatably at a first end 5-1 to the protruding first end 2-1 of housing 2. Second end 5-2 of hair removal element 5 is connected to a driven shaft of motor 4. A curved first section 5-3 of hair removal element 5 is provided with a plurality of slits in its outer surface. During rotation of hair removal element 5 and due to the movement of first section 5-3 against the surface, the slits, which are formed by the spaces between adjacent turns of the spring, are open on the convex side of first section 5-3 in order to receive the hairs in the slits and are closed on the concave side of first section 5-3 in order to capture and pluck the hairs out of the surface. A second section 5-4 of hair removal element 5 extends from second end 5-2 in the direction of first end 5-1. This second section 5-4 is substantially straight and is received in housing 2.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the protruding first end 2-1 of housing 2 along the longitudinal side thereof. The curved first section 5-3 of hair removal element 5 substantially follows a part of an imaginary circle C with an arc length of about 17 millimetres in which the circular path has a circumference of 188 millimetres or a diameter of 30 millimetres. The angle α between the projection of first end 5-1 of the flexible hair removal element 5 and the longitudinal direction of the housing lies between 30° and 60°. Angle β between the projection of second end 5-2 of the flexible hair removal element and the longitudinal direction of housing 2 lies between −10° and 10°. The angle is preferably 0° as shown in this figure. The protruding first end 2-1 of housing 2 comprises an opening 2-2, which opening 2-2 is configured to receive first end 5-1.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of the protruding first end 2-1 of housing 2 along the longitudinal side thereof without hair removal element 5. The protruding first end 2-1 of housing 2 comprises an opening 2-2. This opening 2-2 is configured to receive first end 5-1 of hair removal element 5.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of hair removal element 5 which is shown together with a first coupling piece 6 and second coupling piece 7. First coupling piece 6 is arranged fixedly on first end 5-1 of hair removal element 5. First coupling piece 6 preferably fits in form-locking manner in opening 2-1 such that coupling piece 6 can rotate in opening 2-1. Second coupling piece 7 is intended for the purpose of coupling second end 5-2 of hair removal element 5 to the shaft of motor 3. Second coupling piece 7 has for this purpose a receiving space 7-1 for receiving the shaft of motor 3. Second coupling piece 7 is preferably connected releasably to the shaft, whereby it is possible for a user to replace the spring him/herself.

FIG. 6 shows hair removal element 5 of a second, alternative preferred embodiment of hair removal device (1) according to the invention. Hair removal element 5 is provided here with an additional section 5-5. Hair removal element 5 is preferably embodied as a spring, wherein sections 5-5, 5-3 and 5-4 successively transpose into each other. Section 5-5 is not curved and preferably has a length D of between 4 and 6 millimetres, and most preferably 5.2 millimetres. The largest angle β between longitudinal axis A of section 5-5 and the longitudinal axis of section 5-4 lies between 230° and 250°, and most preferably 241°. The curved section 5-3 describes a part of circle C with a diameter of 2 to 3 centimetres, more particularly 22 millimetres. The length E of the part of section 5-4 which lies between the connection to section 5-3 and the housing amounts to between 4 and 5 millimetres, and most preferably 4.4 millimetres.

The invention is expressly not limited to the shown embodiments but extends to any embodiment falling within the scope of protection as defined in the claims and as seen in the light of the foregoing description and accompanying figures. The hair removal device according to the invention is able to pluck (very fine) hairs, including root, out of the skin surface. The inventive hair removal device has a low rotation speed compared to known hair removal devices and a much smaller spring, which also does not need any internal support. The spring is in addition also much thinner and describes a small part of an imaginary circle. This circle is larger than the imaginary circle applied in known hair removal devices. 

1-12. (canceled)
 13. A hair removal device (1) for removing body hair on a body surface, comprising a hand-held housing (2), an electric motor (4) arranged in the housing (2), operating means for operating the motor (4) and a flexible, cylindrically shaped hair removal element (5) which is connected rotatably at a first end (5-1) to a protruding first end (2-1) of the housing (2) and is connected at a second end to a driven shaft of the motor (4), and a curved first section (5-3) of the hair removal element (5) is provided with a plurality of slits (5-2) in its outer surface, the curved first section having a convex side and a concave side, wherein during rotation of the hair removal element (5) and the movement of the first section (5-3) against the surface the slits (5-2) are open on the convex side of the first section (5-3) in order to receive the hairs in the slits (5-2) and are closed on the concave side of the first section (5-3) in order to capture and pluck the hairs out of the surface, characterized in that the curved first section (5-3) of the hair removal element (5) substantially follows a part of an imaginary circle (C) with a maximum diameter of 35 millimeters along an arc length of a maximum of 25% of the circumference of the circle (C).
 14. The hair removal device (1) of claim 13, wherein the circumference of the circle (C) amounts to a minimum of 50 millimeters.
 15. The hair removal device (1) of claim 13, wherein the housing (2) defines a longitudinal direction, and wherein the first end (5-1) of the flexible hair removal element (5) and the housing (2) define an angle (α), and the second end (5-2) of the flexible hair removal element (5) and the longitudinal direction of the housing (2) define an angle (β), and wherein the angle (α) between the first end (5-1) of the flexible hair removal element (5) and the housing (2) lies between 30° and 60°, and the angle (β) between the second end (5-2) of the flexible hair removal element (5) and the longitudinal direction of the housing (2) lies between −10° and 10°.
 16. The hair removal device (1) of claim 13, wherein the hair removal element (5) is connected releasably at the first end (5-1) to the protruding first end (2-1) of the housing (2).
 17. The hair removal device (1) of claim 16, wherein the protruding first end (2-1) of the housing (2) comprises an opening (2-2), which opening (2-2) is configured to receive the first end (5-1).
 18. The hair removal device (1) of claim 13, wherein a second section (5-4) of the hair removal element (5) extends from the second end (5-2) in the direction of the first end (5-1), which second section (5-4) is substantially straight and at least partially received in the housing (2).
 19. The hair removal device (1) of claim 13, wherein a third section (5-5) of the hair removal element (5) extends from the first end (5-1) of the hair removal element (5) in the direction of the first end of the first section (5-3) of the hair removal element (5), which third section (5-5) is substantially straight and at least partially received in the housing (2).
 20. The hair removal device (1) of claim 13, wherein the protruding first end (2-1) of the housing (2) is provided with a concave-shaped surface (2-3) which extends between the first end (5-1) and the second end (5-2) of the hair removal element (5).
 21. The hair removal device (1) of claim 13, wherein the first section (5-3) of the flexible hair removal element (5) is formed solely by a spiral-shaped spring.
 22. The hair removal device (1) of claim 13, wherein the flexible hair removal element (5) is formed solely by a spiral-shaped spring.
 23. The hair removal device (1) of claim 21, wherein the spiral-shaped spring has a diameter, and wherein the diameter of the flexible hair removal element (5) amounts to less than 5 millimetres.
 24. The hair removal device (1) of claim 23, wherein the diameter of the flexible hair removal element (5) amounts to about 3 millimetres.
 25. The hair removal device (1) of claim 13, wherein the motor (4) is configured to rotate the flexible hair removal element (5) with a rotation speed of between 250 and 600 rotations per minute. 